Italian media has called Everton and West Ham United target Chris Smalling a ‘dominator’ for Roma against Real Sociedad. He shone in their Europa League Round of 16 second leg.
The Giallorossi advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win on aggregate over the Txuri-Urdinak. Roma scored both goals during the first leg and held Real Sociedad to a 0-0 draw at the Anoeta this Thursday. Smalling played the full 90 minutes during both encounters.
Real Sociedad threatened to put Roma’s place in the next round of the UEFA tournament in doubt. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal came within just millimetres of breaking the deadlock after beating Rui Patricio. But the ball did not cross all of the line to save Jose Mourinho’s team.
Chris Smalling shines as Everton and West Ham target the Roma star’s transfer
Smalling played a key role in Roma shutting Real Sociedad out amid interest from Everton and West Ham in his transfer. 90min has reported that the Toffees and Irons, plus Fulham and Leicester City, are monitoring the defender as his Giallorossi contract expires in June.
Roma awarded Smalling a three-year deal to join from Manchester United in an £18m deal in October 2020. He had spent the previous term on loan and sporting director Tiago Pinto is optimistic for a new deal. Calciomercato notes they will speak in the international break.
Pinto has offered Smalling a new two-year contract worth €3m-a-year (£50.5k-a/w) to stay at Roma and reject a potential transfer as Everton and West Ham target the 31-cap former England international. He also showed in the Europa League why the teams are interested.
Chris Smalling impresses the Italian media with his efforts at Real Sociedad
Frequent fouls ensured neither Roma nor Real Sociedad could establish much momentum in the first half. But Mourinho’s men attacked early in the second period and thought they took the lead. Smalling rose to meet Paulo Dybala’s corner from Andrea Belotti’s flick-on.
But Smalling would not get a fourth goal this season across all competitions after the VAR judged the ball went in off his elbow. Each of the 33-year-old’s previous efforts this season have come over his 25 Serie A matches. He has started nine of their 10 Europa League ties.
Yet while his goal would not count, Everton and West Ham target Smalling impressed the Italian media with his role in Roma advancing in the Europa League against Real Sociedad. TuttoMercatoWEB, particularly, admired his ability to take control in either penalty area.
“[Alexander] Sorloth is a tough client but contains him without major problems,” it wrote. “[He is a] constant danger in the Basque area on set pieces [and a] dominator in his own.”
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